ABL defines tidal power exclusion zone offshore France

The NH1 and FloWat tidal turbines will be installed close to the Raz Blanchard ferry route, one of the most powerful tidal sites in the world. In order to mitigate the risk of ferries losing position and passing through the tidal turbine farms, an exclusion zone had to de defined and presented to local authorities.

NH and Hydroquest contracted ABL’s team in France to provide the technical study to justify the required vessel exclusion zone at the project site.

ABL’s study aimed at defining the drifting speed and direction of a relevant vessel-type in different weather conditions. The data it produced was considered in parallel with the distance between the ferry route and farm to define the required exclusion zone. Based on ABL’s marine operational experience, the study took into consideration the captain’s time to react, the number of motors on ferries, the draft of the vessel, and other criteria to reduce the risk of contact between the vessel and the tidal turbines.

“ABL’s team was able to respond positively and proactively to our urgent request and provide a quality study on time. We would like to thank the ABL team for their help,” said Katia Gautier, Project Director at Normandie Hydroliennes.

“NH1 and FloWat are innovative projects that will generate clean and sustainable electricity from the consistent energy resource produced from ocean currents. As a company committed to driving the energy transition, this study was right up our street, and the urgency of it made it even more fun and challenging,” added Leila Brahmia, Snr. Subsea Engineer at ABL in France.

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Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/other-renewables/27122023/abl-defines-tidal-power-exclusion-zone-offshore-france/